Fiery and flavorful, Harissa Paste transforms an ordinary turkey into an exotic meal fit for royalty. Harissa Roasted Turkey is the perfect centerpiece to your holiday meal. The aroma and flavor of this recipe will encourage you to create a new family tradition!

Don't skip this step! It makes the meal. Cure the turkey overnight: Stir together 8 quarts water with 1/2 cup pink mineral salt in a 5-gallon bucket lined with a heavy-duty garbage bag. Soak turkey,
covered and chilled, for 10 hours.

Position the rack in the lower third of the
oven, and preheat to 400 degrees. Rinse the turkey under cold water, and pat
dry. Sprinkle salt and pepper all over the turkey, inside and out. Stuff the
vegetable mixture into the large cavity, and seal closed with a wooden skewer.
Put the extra vegetables in the roasting pan.

Combine 1 cup harissa paste with 1/2 cup oil, and
generously rub over and under the skin of the bird. Fold the neck skin under
the body and secure with a small skewer, tie the drumsticks together with
kitchen string, and secure wings to body with small skewers. Place turkey in
the roasting pan and cover the breast with foil. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes,
then pour 2 cups of broth into the pan and stir to scrape up any brown bits on
the bottom. Roast the turkey for 40 minutes, then remove the vegetables from
the pan and reduce the oven temperature to 350. Add 1 cup broth to the pan and
continue to roast the bird, basting occasionally with the pan juices, until an
instant-read thermometer inserted into fleshy part of a thigh registers 170
degrees, between 1 1/2 and 2 hours more (total roasting time: 2 1/2 to 3 hours).
Remove the foil during the last 20 minutes of cooking. Transfer turkey to a
platter, and let stand 25 minutes. Remove the excess fat from the roasting pan,
then set the pan over medium-low heat, add 1 cup water to the broth, and stir
to release the caramelized particles on the bottom of the pan. Continue to heat
until broth starts to simmer. Serve with stuffing.

Stuffing
Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the bread cubes,
and sauté for 5 minutes, or until lightly toasted, adding the almonds during
the last minute. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Combine the remaining oil and the
cinnamon sticks in a Dutch oven, and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic,
shallots, apples, and hariss paste, and sauté until the shallot is soft. Stir in
the stock, orange juice, and honey; bring to a boil; then reduce the heat to
low and simmer for 15 minutes.